Local authorities are sounding the alarm about an increasing challenge in detaining juveniles who are a threat to public safety.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, DeWitt County Sheriff Mike Walker told the Hart Media Group when a juvenile commits a crime, they are taken into custody by local authorities, but finding detention centers to hold these individuals is becoming increasingly difficult.

According to DeWitt County Probation Officer David Beery, there are juveniles in DeWitt County with multiple offenses who are in homes and in the community who pose public safety threats because the process they have in place is breaking down.

Beery says many of these juveniles are openly threatening harm to people around them, and he believes these are very credible threats to the safety of those individuals being threatened.

Beery adds, facilities near and far are saying they are either full or cannot take the individuals because of other challenges. In the meantime, most individuals are being released to their parents and back at threatening public safety. 

The two officials are encouraging you to contact your local lawmakers to implore Springfield to intervene. They are grateful for the support they have from those lawmakers on the issue and are aware it is going on.